New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

WATER SHARING PLAN FOR THE LOWER GWYDIR GROUNDWATER SOURCE 2003 - REG 11

11 Objectives

The objectives of this Plan are to:

(a) protect and maintain groundwater dependent ecosystems by minimising the impacts of extraction,

(b) manage and share the groundwater resources of the Gwydir Valley in a sustainable and equitable manner, while minimising negative local and regional impacts,

(c) protect the structural integrity of the aquifer by ensuring extraction does not cause any aquifer compaction, aquitard compaction or land subsidence,

(d) protect and maintain groundwater quality by ensuring extraction does not result in a change in the beneficial use of the aquifer,

(e) provide opportunities for market based trading of groundwater rights within the extraction limit and interference constraints,

(f) preserve basic landholder rights to this groundwater source,

(g) ensure there are no long term declines in water levels by managing allocations and extractions within the extraction limit, and

(h) protect and maintain cultural and heritage values through the management of this groundwater source.